Overview

The Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to funding and promoting independent marine research projects. Through research and rescue activities, Sea World aims to help build our knowledge and appreciation of the wondrous variety of life in our oceans.

The Foundation seeks to encourage and assist marine sciences and to date has supported over 180 research projects relating to aspects of the biology of marine vertebrates and considers applications from both the private and public sectors.

Since its beginnings in 1988 as the Neptune Oceanic Foundation, the Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation has given out millions of dollars in grants funding marine vertebrate research. In 2014 alone, $315,000 was distributed by the Foundation for research as well as $9,000 to support community marine debris clean-ups. In total, Sea World contributes over $1,000,000 per year to the rescue, research and rehabilitation of marine life.

In addition to the funding which comes from Sea World, the Foundation through its Scientific Advisory Committee, will distribute $250,000 between 2015 and 2017 from the Australian Federal Government towards marine research.

Sea World Marine Sciences staff are on call 24 hours every day, 365 days per year should a marine animal need rescuing. Since Sea World’s opening the rescue team have attended many hundreds of strandings and entanglements of dolphins, whales, birds and sea snakes, pioneering new rescue techniques and equipment. Sea World also operates a turtle hospital rescuing on average 40 – 70 turtles per year. Injured animals are brought into Sea World and given veterinary care with the ultimate aim of returning these animals back to the wild. Every time Sea World is involved in a rescue, a contribution is made to public awareness and scientific knowledge. This program also helps Australian scientists with their research into marine life.

Sea World is proud to work alongside various government bodies, volunteer groups and zoological institutions including Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) and Australian Seabird Rescue.